How to clean upholstered furniture

No matter what type of furniture you’re talking about, eventually there will be a time when you’re going to want clean upholstery. After investing a lot of money into those pieces, taking care of them will make it last so much longer. So no matter if you’re cleaning a chair, a sofa or even a bench, this is how to keep it clean for years to come.

How to Clean Upholstery

Prepare

In order to properly clean upholstery and not ruin it you to need to know exactly what fabric you’re working with. To find out the type of fabric is check the tag at the bottom of your couch. On this tag, there should be a label with a WS, W, S, O, or X. If it’s a WS or W then your furniture can be washed with a water based detergent. An X means that it can only be vacuumed, S means that it needs to be cleaned with a non-water based detergent and O means that it needs to be washed using cold water because it’s organic.

Cleaning Supplies

Now that you know what to use to properly clean upholstery you will need to gather the appropriate cleaning supplies. Of course, some of these supplies will differ from each other depending on the certain fabric your couch is but they should consist of some sort of detergent, a rag, a brush or sponge to scrub with, and a vacuum.

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Pillows and Cushions

Most furniture will allow you to remove the covers of the pillows and cushions, depending on how they can be washed you can take the covers and run them through the washer and dryer using the appropriate detergent and setting for the type of fabric. Now that those are taken care of you can start washing your cushions and pillows, you can choose to either vacuum them which is quick and easy or use a spray and scrub them down. This spray can be made with all natural cleaners or just a simple mixture of water and detergent. All you do is spritz over the cushions and pillows use a brush/sponge to scrub, take your rag and wipe away any suds, then finally “rinse” by wiping down with damp rags. Another great tip is to take your cushions outside, without their covers, and let them sit in the sun for a few hours. This will evaporate moisture from sweat and help fight smelly bacteria.

Body of the Furniture

All pieces are different, some have wooden accents and feet, others have metal, and some don’t have any – they’re just all fabric. If yours does have wood or metal accents and feet make sure to wipe them down with a water and soap mixture to rid of any dust or smudges or if you’d rather you can use the appropriate type of cleaners for wood and metal it doesn’t matter. As for the rest of the furniture with the cushions and pillows removed, be sure to vacuum thoroughly then wash like you would the pillows and cushions.

Cleaning upholstery does take a little bit of time and most people choose to skip it or forget about it, but it’s necessary to keep it cleaned and it’s totally worth it! Although it may seem like a hassle it is really simple and if you use this basic guide on how to clean a couch you’ll be kicking back on a nice fresh couch or chair in no time.

About Gina Luker

Gina Luker is a writer, photographer and lover of all things quirky. She's usually found with a drill in one hand and a cocktail in the other while blogging along the way. She's addicted to coffee, polka dots, rock stars, Instagram, and everything aqua.

Comments

I really appreciate your tip on how upholstery that is labeled with an S should be cleaned with a non-water based detergent. My wife’s mother has a lot of upholstery in her house, and I want to offer to help her clean her house. Just in case we use water detergent on something labeled with an S, I will be sure to look into hiring a professional!

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